The Arsenal of Idiocracy - Cribtop (A) vs John 3rd (J) - BTS Mod

[Cribtop]

This will be my AAR for the Between the Storms game between myself as the Allies and John 3rd as Japan.

I have the first turn and will run the replay soon. Then on to the dreaded Allied Turn 2. This is my first game as Allies and I am looking forward to it. John is a wildly aggressive player who will challenge me. However, the BTS mod is not just all new IJN toys, the USN and other navies get some really nice additions too. I hope to use them well!

Because I am now trying to run two games at once, I'm afraid there is no way I can replicate the daily format of my Japanese AARs. Instead I will try to update in a weekly format that provides the highlights and seeks input on decision making.

I'll give a little insight into my overall war plan later, but for the moment the war plan is to survive auto victory.

Bastions: 1) Karachi & Bombay; 2) Sydney & Melbourne plus a few bases in their immediate vicinity; 3) Pearl & CONUS.

Asset divisions:

1) Shelter in place - these troops & ships are doomed and will only engage in some creative local moves designed to make their deaths as painful as possible for John

2) Local resistance - these are forces I can live with losing who will fight delaying actions and/or try to slash in against poorly protected Japanese thrusts. As always I am a counter-puncher. No carriers will be risked in this manner.

3) Strategic forces - these assets will gather in the bastions on the strategic defensive and will slowly spool out to secure a wider footprint over time.

A word on John. I think by now we all have read enough of his AARs that we know what he likes (big crazy offensives and sinking ships) and what he doesn't (China and the land war in general). I hope to use this against him a bit as I consider the land war to be one of my strengths. I plan to fight in the air and on the sea where it makes sense but I know full well I will have to be cautious and avoid sticking my neck out too far, too soon. I think this is especially a problem for Japanese players trying the Allies. It's hard to shift your mindset.

Coming soon: House Rules and the War Plan!

[Cribtop]

House Rules

SETTINGS

ON:

Advanced Weather
PDU
Allied dmg control
FoW
Realistic R&D
Dec 7th Surprise

OFF:

Reliable USN Torps
Historical first turn
No Unit Withdrawals

HOUSE RULES

First turn

Allied – Can give orders to only units at sea, no new TFs, land or air movements or changing orders for LBA. China is exempt from this rule.

Japan – Multiple port strikes with carriers participating in strikes with LBA. None with just LBA. No gamey warp invasion, like Mersing, Singkawang, or Ambon.

No hunting of Allied CV's during the first turn.

China Truce

No aggressive actions during the first month in China. Both sides may re-position troops in preparation for commencement of hostilities.

Air

No 4E below 10,000ft. - Restricted to 10k or higher for naval and ground attacks (does not include PBY/Mavis type patrol craft).

Aircraft Limitations (reflecting the Between the Storm/RA Mods):
-No A6M3 on CVEs
-No A6M4 on any form of Carrier
-A7M Sam and B7A-D Grace cannot be operated from CVEs

General

PPs must be paid when changing theater.

No strategic bombing anywhere until 1 July 1943.

Thai units may freely enter Burma and Malaya, but require PP's to enter India or China.

No invasions or paradrops on non-base hexes.

[obvert]

Very exciting game brewing up here unexpectedly. Nice!

[Olorin]

[Mike Solli]

[Cribtop]

Quick summary of Dec 7:

1) Pearl attack by Amagi, Akagi, Shok and Zui plus their attendant CVLs was average to above average. Only Nevada and California in danger of sinking. Nothing sank outright.

2) Air bases in Luzon and Malaya got trashed. Shocker. A few brave Buffalo pilots on CAP snuck in past the Nate sweeps and shot down a Nell or two.

3) Hiryu/Soryu hit Manila pretty hard. Lots of subs damaged, Seawolf and Sealion sunk.

4) Kuantan is invaded by a lot, Batan Island by a little. Cotabato falls to paras. Looks like a big fleet with BBs is heading for Sinkawang.

5) I may have screwed up the house rules. I read them to say I couldn't change air orders at all for the first day. That meant bombers from Singers launched into heavy CAP at Kuantan and took heavy losses. Three bomb hits on a few transports, though. #MoralVictory. [:D]

Now the real war begins. I'll post the Pearl and Manila CRs tonight.

Also, thanks for all the popcorn, guys! Glad you are all looking forward to it.

[HansBolter]

First game as Allies ever, or first game as Allies in BTS?

If the former, you have no yardstick by which to measurer and appreciate the differences.

They are Legion.

Comb through all of your ships and examine potential upgrades. Many new ones added.
The old CLs can upgrade to CLAAs.
Two AKVs can upgrade to CVEs.
Two AVs can upgrade to CVEs. (I think another may enter later).
A slew of AOs can upgrade to CVEs.
Even in stock you have about 20 xAKs than can upgrade to AEs or AKEs with at least another 20 entering over the first three months.

The French get a fully fleshed out navy based ad Tahiti. They get a plethora of escorts that can serve SOPAC and relieve the burden of sending escort ships there from Pearl.
Most of all they get a full SAG with two BCs, a CA, a CL and four DDs. (the BCs and CA enter over the first few months).

Almost every base that is dry of fuel in stock gets at least a small amount facilitating early naval operations.

The list goes on!

[obvert]

Things I've learned after playing mostly Japan and then switching to the Allies for my recent DBB game:

1. Non-US Allied LCU leaders suck almost as much as unit experience levels. You can't fight on equal terms, and especially not outside your fortified areas early, during 42.

2. Your 4Es are more brittle than they look from the other side. Treat them with care. You'll have to learn a whole new set of airframe capabilities and how to weave them together. It was tough for me to realize that even late in 42 it's very hard to push the Japanese off anything they want to defend.

3. Get your navy some less risky experience, especially at night. Bombardments and ASW duties build it up pretty well. USN ASW sucks early but picks up in mid-42 upgrades. Thus take care moving CVs around early. This is not the 43-45 ASW we've lost so many subs to on the other side.

4. Take what he gives. John will do something fantastically dramatic. He'll push hard somewhere, but he can't be everywhere. Use what you know from the Japanese side and make use of any way of getting troops and supply into place to begin the push early where he lets you. (i.e. fast transport, sub supply, air drop/reinforcements). Use forces you don't mind losing but that he has to account for eventually. Also, good for bait and trap ops against a player like John.

5. Don't panic when the VP count starts to go exponential. Build EVERYTHING he can't take and max it out, and plan to keep/take back big multiplier bases like Noumea, Fiji, Anchorage, etc.

Sounds like you'll have your hands full figuring out all of the unusual stuff you have to play with as well! [:)]

[Cribtop]

Yeah, I'm crazy as it's my first Allied game ever. However, hopefully the extra toys and good advice will help even out the deficit. John and I have agreed I can take a LONG time on the Allied turn 2. My mind is odd. I have a photographic memory but can only think top down. Thus, it is very important for me to fully understand the toys I've got and will get. Then the memory can kick in to track and understand it all. It's very hard for me to click on everything and build a "bottom up" understanding of things, but it's a must. This is the real reason I pine for a "setup phase" like the old Avalon Hill games. In the process of setting up I would learn and remember that I have 100 whatever class xAKs and know where I put them. I fight against this as Japan too but know the OOB better due to experience. Yes, I am odd. [:D]

So what will John do? I am basically assuming four options in order of likelihood: 1) Deep SOPAC, 2) Oz, 3) India, 4) Hawaii. It is possible he will do an OZ/SOPAC combo move too. My plan is to really focus on securing the bastions first - assume they will be attacked and defend them "for reals." Then I'll think about expansion into Allied controlled areas he didn't take and THEN about real offensives. I will balance this with the "local resistance" forces making some noise. In fact, I have a cheeky tactical idea already to implement in SOPAC/SWPAC already.

[BBfanboy]

In another AAR John commented that he thought of India as a "tar baby" if the IJA goes beyond Calcutta.
That doesn't mean he won't send strong naval TFs hunting British rabbits if he needs a "smash fix".

OTOH, John has often mentioned that he is proud of having been one of the few to take ALL of Australia. Behaviour that is rewarded is likely to be repeated ...

[HansBolter]

Speaking of xAKs, comb through every Allied port and get the transport shipping headed to supply, fuel and troop sources.
Everything starts scattered all over the place. Lots in Sidney/Melbourne, lots in ports all over India and Lots in the DEI.

[Cribtop]

Thanks again for the great info. Yes, India is a bit "land intensive" for John. IMHO Oz or SOPAC or both is most likely. Then again, with all the games he's had lately and gone for Oz & SOPAC, he may be in the mood for something else. Kind of doubt it though as the alternatives (Hawaii, NOPAC) aren't really fruitful.

[Cribtop]

Here are the results from Pearl and Manila. I was wrong, the Pearl strike did not leave any BBs in danger of sinking despite the high number of torpedo hits. The hits on cruisers are irritating, however.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 91
B5N2 Kate x 123
D3A1 Val x 102

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 17 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 9 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 4 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 20 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 12 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 41 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 9 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 1 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 9 damaged
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Rail, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Idaho, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 4, on fire
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Helena, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 1
DM Preble, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AS Pelias, Torpedo hits 1
DD Jarvis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cassin, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AV Wright, Torpedo hits 1
CL Anchorage, Bomb hits 1
AE Mauna Loa, Bomb hits 1
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
AV Curtiss, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Repair Shipyard hits 1
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 16
Port hits 19
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
24 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
24 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
21 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
15th PG/45th PS with P-36A Mohawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
15th PG/46th PS with P-36A Mohawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes

Training flight from 15th PG/45th PS has been caught up in attack
Training flight from 15th PG/46th PS has been caught up in attack
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
B5N2 Kate x 53
D3A1 Val x 45

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK La Estrella Caltex, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AVD Childs, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Seawolf, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Sealion, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AV Ely, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SS Salmon, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
TK Mindanao, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Finch, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Swordfish, Bomb hits 1
xAKL Dos Hermanos, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Rochambeau, Bomb hits 1
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AO Pecos, Bomb hits 1
SS S-37, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
xAP President Madison, Bomb hits 1
xAK Capillo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PT-32, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Skipjack, Bomb hits 1
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Corregidor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Saury, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
SS Sturgeon, Bomb hits 1
xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Sailfish, Bomb hits 1

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
6 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
19 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[Cribtop]

I plan to lament the high number of torp hits to John when I send back Turn 2, hoping he will forego a second strike at Pearl.

Speaking of Turn 2, I am working on it, having finished CONUS and NOPAC last night. Question - How do you do pilot training, Allied style? Michael recommends putting good leaders in the Eastern US squadrons, which makes sense. What attributes are we looking for in leaders? Any quirks to Allied pilot training I should know about?

[Cribtop]

OK, you will all notice I have updated the House Rules post. There are two key elements here that IMHO will shape grand strategy and game play.

First, there is a one month truce in China to allow re-positioning of force, no aggressive actions. That should help a lot with a China defense, as will the fact that John tends to take the easy stuff here and then leave the theater alone. Second, there is no strategic bombing until July 1, 1943. That pretty much takes the "invade Oz down to Brisbane and bomb the industry into the stone ages" play off the table. These two factors are crucial and really limit John's options with respect to auto victory. Take away a China conquest and a few thousand strat bombing VPs in Oz and he will need to do very well indeed for auto vic.

IMHO this takes us off the hook to hold Noumea at all costs. We are contemplating allowing whatever shenanigans he has planned in SOPAC to play out as a result of this calculus. Not saying we will hand him anything, but Cribtop HQ is not really inclined to risk CVs for Noumea or Suva either. Plus, a long term concept of cutting off these overextended troops during 1943 is forming in the back of my mind.

Thoughts?

[Capt. Harlock]

I plan to lament the high number of torp hits to John when I send back Turn 2, hoping he will forego a second strike at Pearl.

Am I reading correctly that West Virginia escaped undamaged?

[DOCUP]

Capt: West Virginia is repairing on the WC.  The Colorado class got some upgrades.
 
Crib: This scen has US training groups.  Similar to the Japanese ones.  Training groups are at Wendover Field and San Diego.  Train your pilots for the way you want, or how you plan on using them.  NYGiants has a document made up that has the starting locations of all the good ships.  I know he will give it out.  Its also in his latest AAR, I don't remember what page though.

[Cribtop]

Thanks, guys. And yes, W. Virginia starts in CONUS and thus is in decent shape once she finishes her upgrade in about 20 days.

[Cribtop]

Turn 2 progress report: I've finished CONUS, China, SOPAC and NOPAC. Still need to do India, the DEI, Oz and pilot training. Should be done by the end of the weekend.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

OK, you will all notice I have updated the House Rules post. There are two key elements here that IMHO will shape grand strategy and game play.

First, there is a one month truce in China to allow re-positioning of force, no aggressive actions. That should help a lot with a China defense, as will the fact that John tends to take the easy stuff here and then leave the theater alone. Second, there is no strategic bombing until July 1, 1943. That pretty much takes the "invade Oz down to Brisbane and bomb the industry into the stone ages" play off the table. These two factors are crucial and really limit John's options with respect to auto victory. Take away a China conquest and a few thousand strat bombing VPs in Oz and he will need to do very well indeed for auto vic.

IMHO this takes us off the hook to hold Noumea at all costs. We are contemplating allowing whatever shenanigans he has planned in SOPAC to play out as a result of this calculus. Not saying we will hand him anything, but Cribtop HQ is not really inclined to risk CVs for Noumea or Suva either. Plus, a long term concept of cutting off these overextended troops during 1943 is forming in the back of my mind.

Thoughts?

If Auto Vic is essentially off the table then you are in great shape.

Do not try to fight John offensively, let him expand and overextend as far as he wants.

What has been extremely effective for me as the Allies is to plan your strategy and move forward at your own pace and ignore the Japanese attempts at mis-direction. Set up a plan to land 3 divisions simultaneously or several divisions separately backed up by support units, etc. Have this ready for Sopac in mid June or later in 1942.

If I were you, I would try to tease John across the map by poking and prodding where you think the KB is not and dangling things in his direction. He will burn fuel and eventually burn out his economy. He gets into trouble by mid - late 42 with fuel usually.

Get a counter punch ready for Java or Sumatra. I like how Mr. Kane is executing his game right now, good things to learn from that.

Put your carriers in drydock or use them for taxi's until they are ready to go.

The last thing is to purposely set up traps at certain areas of the map to bait his KB into. He likes to use it too much IMO. Crippling the fleet ends the game.